Disposable swab for toilet bowls



Feb. 16, 1954 c. o. JAEGER DISPOSABLE SWAB FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed July 13, 1951 \Q In N mu,

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Patented Feb. 16, 1954 DISBO'SA-BLE SWAB FOR TQIDE-E Clemens 0. "Jaeger, Milwaukeeprv visli.

Application Julyl3, 1951, Serial Nob23lh593tinvention relates ,to'"'- swab's'...;and prefers; more particularly to a swab especially adapted for use in such nasty tasks as the cleaning of toilet bowls. The unsightliness of ordinary toilet bowl brushes and the generally indelicate aspect of their use and storage are well known to any housewife, and it is the purpose of this invention to minimize the unpleasantness of the task by providing a readily disposable swab.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive swab which can be easily produced from paper and which is equipped with means for readily removably attaching it to a handle to permit the same to be used without requiring the swab per 'se to be held in the hand.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a swab embodying this invention and illustrating the manner in which it is stripped off or detached from its handle after use; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the swab in position on the handle, but showing only the lower end of the handle.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5' designates the disposable swab of this invention. A tube 6 of supple, water-resistant sheeting projects from the swab to receive a handle 1. The tube 6 may be formed of cellophane, Pliofilm or any other similar water-resistant, but highly supple and pliable material, and extends into the interior of the swab as shown in Figure 2. The swab per se consists of a body 8 of highly bibulous paper or other similar material within a bag-like shell or enclosure 9 of stronger paper such as that used for paper toweling.

The body 8 of the swab, as well as its outer shell 9, is suitably. formed around the lower end of the tube 6 and is secured thereto by a tapelike enwrapment I0. The handle 1 may be of anywdesiredamaterialpipreferablymvopdgand;is:ofaai derstood that one handle would be packaged along with a number of swabs, and that if desired the swabs may be sold separately, i. e., without an accompanying handle.

In use, the handle is inserted or slipped all the way into the tube so that the lower end of the handle affords a stiff support for the swab. Ordinarily the enwrapment l0 constricts the tube sufficiently to cause the same to grip the handle and secure the swab against accidental detachment, so that only one hand is needed in manipulating the swab. The job done, the swab is readily stripped off the handle, as shown in Figure 1, and allowed to fall into the bowl to be flushed away.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a great convenience to the housewife since to a large degree it overcomes the aversion many have to the cleaning of toilet bowls by eliminating much of the messiness connected with the task.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A disposable swab comprising: a swab of material readily disintegratable in water; a stiff elongated handle for the swab; a long thin-walled tube of supple water resistant material closed at one end and open at its other end, the closed end portion of the tube projecting into the swab from the upper end thereof and extending down into the swab to have its closed extremity located well within the body of the swab, and the open end portion of the tube being loosely and readily detachably telescoped over the elongated handle, the portion of the tube which projects from the swab being much longer than the portion thereof within the swab so as to extend a substantial distance up the handle and thereby enable the tube to be grasped along with the handle at a distance far enough removed from the swab to preclude contact with the water during use of the swab; and means for securing the tube to the swab so that the tube provides means for holding the swab upon the handle with the lower end of the handle projecting into the swab but protected by the tube from being wetted during use, and whereby stripping of the tube off the handle frees the swab and the tube from the handle for disposal of the tube along with the swab after use.

2. The disposable swab of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the swab comprises a body of highly bibulous cellulosic material within a wrapping of relatively strong though waterdisintegratable paper.

3. A disposable swab comprising: a swab of material readily disintegratable in water; and along thin-walled tube of supple water resistant material closed at one end and open at the other, fixed to the swab with the closed end portion of the tube projecting into the swab from the upper end thereof and extending down into the swab a distance such that its closed extremity is well within the body of the swab, and the open end portion of the tube projecting from the upper end of the swab to be freely slipped onto an elongated handle with the handle reaching down into the v swab but protected by the tube from being wetted during use, the open end portion of the tube which projects from the swab being much longer than the portion thereof within the swab so as to extend a substantial distance up the handle and thereby enable the tube to be grasped along with the handle at a distance far enough removed from the swab to preclude contact with the water 4 during use or the swab and also enable detaching theswab and tube from the handle for disposal of the tube along with the swab without need for contacting any wet portion of the tube or swab.

4. The disposable swab of claim 3 further characterized by the fact that the swab comprises a body of highly bibulous cellulosic material within a wrapping of relatively strong though waterdisintegratable paper.

CLEMENS O. JAEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,226,654 Bates Dec. 31, 1940 2,271,861 Harris Feb. 3, 1942 2,402,577 Rodgers June 25, 1946 2,560,649 Hornaday July 1'7, 1951 2,621,356 Ingraham Dec. 16, 1952 2,635,274 Hatcher et a1 Apr. 21, 1953 

